This textbook provides students with the background knowledge and skills necessary to begin using the basic functions and features of z/VM Version 5, Release 3. It is part of a series of textbooks designed to introduce students to mainframe concepts and help prepare them for a career in large systems computing. For optimal learning, students are assumed to be literate in personal computing and have some computer science or information systems background. Others who will benefit from this textbook include z/OS professionals who would like to expand their knowledge of other aspects of the mainframe computing environment. This course can be used as a prerequisite to understanding Linux on System z. After reading this textbook and working through the exercises, the student will have received a basic understanding of the following topics:

The Series z Hardware concept and the history of the mainframe

Virtualization technology in general and how it is exploited by z/VM

Operating systems that can run as guest systems under z/VM

z/VM components

The z/VM control program and commands

The interactive environment under z/VM, CMS and its commands

z/VM planning and administration

Implementing the networking capabilities of z/VM

Tools to monitor the performance of z/VM systems and guest operating systems

The REXX programming language and CMS pipelines

Security issues when running z/VM

Chapter 1. Introduction to the mainframe hardware systems

Chapter 2. Introduction to virtualization and z/VM

Chapter 3. History of z/VM

Chapter 4. z/VM - job roles and basic concepts

Chapter 5. Control Program for new users

Chapter 6. Conversational Monitor System

Chapter 7. The REXX programming language

Chapter 8. CMS pipelines

Chapter 9. System administration tasks

Chapter 10. Performance

Chapter 11. Networking and connectivity

Chapter 12. z/VM security

Chapter 13. Guest operating systems

Appendix A. Enhancements in z/VM Version 5, Release 3

Appendix B. Answer key